Major jobs blow as M&S axes Mallusk distribution centre

Duncan Elder

More than 130 jobs are to go at the Marks and Spencer distribution centre in Mallusk.

DHL Supply Chain, which operates the M&S Hydepark storage and distribution facility, has confirmed that 134 workers will be affected as operations at the site are “scaled down” between now and April 5.

“As part of its Supply Chain Transformation Programme, last August M&S announced that following the opening of its new E-commerce/National Distribution Centre in Castle Donington, its Hydepark RDC would be scaled down to a cross dock and re-pricing facility,” a DHL spokesperson told the Times.

“Following conclusion of the formal consultation process, M&S has confirmed that Hydepark will become a cross dock operation and re-pricing facility by April 5, 2014. In recent months one-to-one meetings have taken place with affected staff to discuss their options, from taking redundancy to being redeployed in other areas of the business.

“Both Marks & Spencer and DHL thank the team at Hydepark for their ongoing dedication and stress that the decision in no way reflects on the quality of work at the site. DHL will continue to work closely with Marks & Spencer to mitigate disruption to colleagues during this difficult time.”

It’s understood that the Department for Employment and Learning is planning to hold redundancy clinics for those affected by the job cuts within the next few weeks.

Marks & Spencer announced last year its plan to close the Hydepark Regional Distribution Centre in early 2014.

Stock for the retailer’s stores across Ireland will now come directly from facilities in England and Scotland.

A small number of staff will remain at the Mallusk site to carry out price checking and re-labelling work.